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steakumm_jakeumm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
smuds2's review against another edition
1.0
How does this book get such crazy good reviews? Books like this - that take such an interesting premise only to turn it into a pile of garbage and still be praised as if they turned trash into gold instead of gold into trash and rise to the top as if they are literary masterpieces, make me more confident in the power of the patriarchy than ever.
Good premise. Terrible terrible execution. The prose carried through by one to two sentences per chapter that are actually moving.
Why the constant emphasis on sexual misdeeds, excrement, etc. these people lost the pivotal sense humans use to interpret their world — and you basically say “they’d probably just act the same”
Absolutely no interpretation of internal changes. In how people identify themselves and others without sight. Absolutely no interesting ideas in how it impacts the internal lives of characters.
Absolutely no discussion of the guilt and stress, or lack thereof, of being functionally patient 0s in a horrifying pandemic.
Very little interesting to say on how people might organize themselves differently given their deprive senses.
And a gang with one gun they have fired three shots from somehow manages to take over 300 people to turn them into automatons? How? Is that the message? That people break at the slightest provocation.
Absolutely disgusting, embarrassed I was seen reading it.
Good premise. Terrible terrible execution. The prose carried through by one to two sentences per chapter that are actually moving.
Why the constant emphasis on sexual misdeeds, excrement, etc. these people lost the pivotal sense humans use to interpret their world — and you basically say “they’d probably just act the same”
Absolutely no interpretation of internal changes. In how people identify themselves and others without sight. Absolutely no interesting ideas in how it impacts the internal lives of characters.
Absolutely no discussion of the guilt and stress, or lack thereof, of being functionally patient 0s in a horrifying pandemic.
Very little interesting to say on how people might organize themselves differently given their deprive senses.
And a gang with one gun they have fired three shots from somehow manages to take over 300 people to turn them into automatons? How? Is that the message? That people break at the slightest provocation.
Absolutely disgusting, embarrassed I was seen reading it.
nisanatreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It starts with one man and then spreads across the country - people suddenly go blind without any other symptoms. They can only see white and are helpless about what is happening to them. As the disease spreads, people are interned in a dilapidated asylum for the insane. As fear of the disease spreads, these interned people become a kind of model for the whole country, witnessing the depravity of humanity and how quickly society unravels when you can't see and can't be seen. There's only one woman among them who is immune and has to watch.
Saramago won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998, and this novel was specifically mentioned by the jury as an indicator of his mastery of the craft. However, from what I've read on the Internet, opinions are very divided and many people really don't like Saramago. I have to admit that I had a hard time reading this book because it's very densely written and Saramago delves into a lot of philosophical questions. It takes a lot of brainwork to get through, but I really appreciate the result because it leaves you with a lot of food for thought.
As a fan of Sally Rooney, I have no problem with unconventional writing styles, but Saramago is particularly difficult to read because he uses full stops sparingly, uses a lot of commas and marks a change of speaker by capitalising the first letter. This makes for very long sentences/paragraphs, but I think it also makes for a very realistic and authentic reading. His style is very lifelike and he has an uncanny sense of comedic timing and irony. He kind of turns the situation on itself by holding up a mirror, which is very interesting to read.
I didn't really fall in love with this book, but it's certainly a remarkable read and an experience I won't soon forget. You might want to read the content warnings as the content is very graphic and I had to take a lot of breaks as it was almost too much for me.
Find me on Instagram @nisanatreads
Saramago won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998, and this novel was specifically mentioned by the jury as an indicator of his mastery of the craft. However, from what I've read on the Internet, opinions are very divided and many people really don't like Saramago. I have to admit that I had a hard time reading this book because it's very densely written and Saramago delves into a lot of philosophical questions. It takes a lot of brainwork to get through, but I really appreciate the result because it leaves you with a lot of food for thought.
As a fan of Sally Rooney, I have no problem with unconventional writing styles, but Saramago is particularly difficult to read because he uses full stops sparingly, uses a lot of commas and marks a change of speaker by capitalising the first letter. This makes for very long sentences/paragraphs, but I think it also makes for a very realistic and authentic reading. His style is very lifelike and he has an uncanny sense of comedic timing and irony. He kind of turns the situation on itself by holding up a mirror, which is very interesting to read.
I didn't really fall in love with this book, but it's certainly a remarkable read and an experience I won't soon forget. You might want to read the content warnings as the content is very graphic and I had to take a lot of breaks as it was almost too much for me.
Find me on Instagram @nisanatreads
irissuurmond's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
dheniges's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ruileite's review against another edition
5.0
"Já estamos mortos, estamos cegos porque estamos mortos, ou então, se preferes que diga isto doutra maneira, estamos mortos porque estamos cegos, dá no mesmo."
"Penso que não cegamos, penso que estamos cegos, Cegos que veem, Cegos que, vendo, não veem."
"Penso que não cegamos, penso que estamos cegos, Cegos que veem, Cegos que, vendo, não veem."
siljevera's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.75
0deya's review against another edition
4.5
A gripping yet grotesque allegory for humanity, societal structures and the nature of a soul. Reading this was a sickening experience but I still couldn't put this book down. Minus 0.5 stars for the sheer depravity of the sexual violence-some things you just can't unread. Recommend with caution.
brunacarstairs's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5